Soniferous device



Feb. 21, 1939. M. H, GRAY SONIFEROUS DEVICE Original Filed April 22, 1936 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

Application April 22, 1936, Serial No. 75,817

Renewed July 18, 1938 Claims.

My invention relates to soniferous devices and more particularly to devices of such nature adapted to be used with a chair or other like structures `adapted to support the weight of a 5 user.

An object of my invention is to permit music, speech, or other oral entertainment to be transmitted to the user with a minimum of extraneous noise in the locality in which the device is placed.

lll A furtherobject of my invention is to pro-- vide a construction for a'chair, such as the chairs used by dentists, Optometrists, barbers, beauty operators, etc., which willpermit the patient to be entertained with speech or music from either lf a phonograph record or radio.

Yet anotherobject of my invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, easy to operate, repair and replace, and which is sturdy, strong and durable.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly so understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same into practical eiect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation,

, 3,-, have been made the subject of illustration.-V

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device attached to a chair, such as a dental chair;

Fig. 2 is a' View taken along the line 2.-2 of 49 Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a View taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring system which may be used with my device.

47, My device depends upon the bone transmission of sound. If soniferous vibrations are transmitted to a bone of the head, the one whose head bones are set in vibration will hear the sounds, even thoughthey are not audible to anyone else 50 even closely adjacent the hearer.

In dental oices, beauty shops, 4barber shops, etc., the noise of a radio or phonograph is often objectionable. Particularlyis this true where there mightbe several phonographs or radios,

A"55A each giving diierent programs.'l By having an arrangement such as I contemplate, the user can vary the volume of musi" and turn it on and ol at will. Therefore, the users program will not be objectionable to others in the same room.

In the drawing I have designated a chair, such 5 as `the chairs in a dentists oice, barber shop, beauty parlor, optometrists oflice, etc., with the numeral I. The chair I isprovi'ded with arms 2. One of the arms 2 is provided with a volume control and cut-off button. 3. The arr'n2 comlo prises a hollow body 4 havingl a molded top 5. Attached to .the molded top 5 is a casing 6 in which the volume control and cut-oli switch is operated by turning the button 3. Leading from the casing Ii are leads 1, and 9 which pass to l5 a radio receiver or phonograph, which I have indicated diagrammatically in Figure 4 by the numeral Ill. The volume control in the casing 6 I have diagrammatically illustratedl by the potentiometer Il. 20

From the radio receiver or phonograph record reproducer wires I2 and I3 lead respectively to wires I4 and I5 which supply current impressed with electrical undulations to loud speaker receivers I6. The loud speaker receivers I6 are 25 carried by supporting frames I1 to which they are bolted as indicated at I8. The frames I1 carry rubber pads I9 which are adapted to t against the head of the user when seated in the chair I. The loud speaker receiver elements mounted on the casings I1 transmit through the bones ofthe head oi the user to his auditory nerves the program either of the phonograph record reproducer or radio receiver.

The support members I1 are each carried on extensions 20 of a yoke 2| Vwhich is pivoted at either end as indicated at 22 on another yoke 23 which is carried by an arm 24. The arm 24 is provided with a downturned end 25 which is pivoted as indicated at 26` .on a support 21. .A 0 i locking lever 28 is provided to permit the arm 24 to be adjusted to various angular positions on the pivot 26. The details of this mechanism are well known and a detailed description is not believed to be necessary.

The support 21 is provided with an extension 29 which fits within a slide 30. A locking lever 3I adjusts the height of the support 21. The

extension 29 of the support 21 being adapted to slide in slideway 30 may be locked in place by 50 lever 3|., This construction is well known and the details thereof are not given.

The back of the chair is provided with a spring mechanism and supports which I have indicated generally by the numeral 32. The details of this mechanism are not necessary to understand the device and are standard.

By adjusting the position of the extension 29 in the slideway 30, the height of the head rest can/be determined. The pivoting of the yoke 2| on the pivots 22 permits of angular adjustment of the head of the user to a comfortable angle.

The radio program or the music or speech from the phonograph record reproducer produces soniferous vibrations in the loud speaker mechanisms I6. The volume of these sounds can be determined by simple adjustment of the button 3 on the arm of the chair. The button 3 will also permit the sound to be cut on entirely. The head of the user rests against the rubber pads I9 and the sounds pass through the bones of the head of the user to his auditory nerves, thus permitting him to hear the program but not causing inconvenience to others in near proximity.

The sound vibrations are in part transmitted through the upper surface of the pad I 9 and `also through the air between the loud speakers I6 and the back or sides of the users head. The pads I9 t over the head of the user and entrap the air between the head of the user and the top of each reproducer or loud speaker I6. Thus the sound does not get out into the room but is readily transmitted to the auditory nerves of the user.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chair with a head rest, a soniferous device incorporated in the head rest, whereby sounds are conducted to the auditory nerves of the user through the head bones o the user from the head rest, and volume control mounted on the arm of the chair to control the sound volume emitted by the soniferous device.

2. A chair with a head rest, a plurality of supporting pads carried by the head rest adapted to flt on either side of the head of the user, a soniferous device incorporated in the head rest, whereby sounds are conducted to the auidtory nerves of the user through the head bones of the user from the head rest, and volume control mounted on the arm of the chair to control the sound volume emitted by the soniferous device.

3. A chair with a head rest, a yoke on the head rest, pads on the yoke, a soniferous device incorporated in each pad whereby sounds are conducted to the auditory nerves of the user through the head bones of the user from the pads, the volume control mounted on the arm 0f the chair to control the sound volume emitted by the soniferous device.

4. A chair with a head rest, speaker mechanisms located on the head rest behind each ear of the user whereby sounds are conducted to both sets of the auditory nerves of the user through head bones of the user adjacent such auditory nerves.

5. A chair with a head rest, said head rest comprising a plurality of supporting pads adapted to t on either side of the head of the user and movable to adjust themselves to the conformation of the head of the user, soniferous devices incorporated in each of the pads whereby sounds are conducted to the auditory nerves of the user through the head bones of the user on either side of the head, said pads being adapted to rest against the head of the user adjacent to and behind each ear oi the user.

MARION H. GRAY. 

